Top row (left to right) - the crappy Chandler knockoff from 1988, three BKB/Chandler Tube Drivers from 1986-87, and an Ibanez Tube King (TK999US) from 1995.īottom row (left to right) - a BK Butler 911 Tube Driver reissue from 2007, a 911 reissue with bias knob on back from 2008, a 901 Real Tube from 1987, an original 911 Tube Driver from 1994, and a 903 Smooth pick pedal from 1997 I do not recommend the knockoff Chandler version with the attached wall wart either (the one without BK Butler's name on it), as those have a different tone circuit that sounds like a poor imitation of the BKB circuit. The three knob version and other Taiwan made versions may be found for much less money, but they do not sound the same. I have played most of the other variants as well and I suggest staying away from any but the original 4-knob Tube Drivers branded with both BKB and Chandler, Tube Works branded 911 Tube Drivers made in the USA, the USA made Ibanez Tube King, or the BKB Branded 911 Tube Drivers made since 2006. I have owned several versions of Butler's Tube Driver, including a few original Chandler/BKB versions from the 1980s, a 1989 Real Tube with 5 knobs, a 911 models, a few 911 reissues with the bias knob, a 1996 Ibanez Tube King, and a Tube Works Smooth pick pedal, among others. Butler and CHANDLER INDUSTRIES, INC on the front), the unauthorized 1988 knockoff made by Chandler after Butler parted ways with them (only marked with script Chandler logo on the front, no BK Butler), the 1990s Tube Works reissue, and a B.K. on the front), the revised 1986-87 era BK Butler Tube Driver (marked TUBE DRIVER®, Concept & Design: B.K. Shown above (left to right) - The extremely rare original 1985 BK Butler Tube Driver (marked TUBE DRIVER™ and CHANDLER INDUSTRIES-PATENT PEND. Butler has always made these stock with 12AX7 tubes, but owners typically experiment with different tubes to tailor their tone. It would seem that the tube itself would make very little difference to the sound, but it actually is an integral part of the sound, and different tubes or tube types will alter the sound in different ways.
This is called a "starved plate" design, and you won't see much tube glow, if any, if you look inside. The tube is actually only running at 12v, a fraction of what these tubes run in a typical amplifier. It filters and colors the sound with the tube characteristics. That strong signal is fed into a vaccuum tube, which does not work to amplify the signal as it would in the pre amp stage of a typical amplifier. The hard clipping part of the distortion comes from the integrated circuit chip, or op-amp. Inside is a hybrid fuzz - pre amp circuit. The standard 4 knob version features a master volume, HI (treble), LO (bass), and drive control.
The Tube Driver looks like something from the bridge of the Enterprise from the 1960s Star Trek television show. The TD has a very unique voice that I have never heard another overdrive replicate. It can be difficult dial in a tone setting that hits the sweet spot, and some people find it finicky and hard to get along with due to some design issues, but in the right setup, with the right amp, nothing sounds quite like it. It is not very versatile sounding through some amps, but exceptionally good with others. At low drive it can deliver a Fenderish smooth gain boost or a bluesy overdrive. At high gain, it is very reminiscent of the lead crunch tone of a Marshall JCM800 amplifier. It generates anything from a smooth, light overdrive tone, to a classic rock-style heavy distortion. It has evolved over the years and there are many versions (a list can be found HERE). Around 1978 Butler designed and began making an early version of the Tube Driver, one of the first tube overdrive pedals. It was designed and built by audio electronics engineer B.K. BUTLER REAL TUBE OVERDRIVE - The Tube Driver is a booster/overdrive pedal with an IC and vacuum tube driven preamp circuit inside, used by guitarists such as David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Eric Johnson, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, J Mascis, David Holt, Keith Urban, and others. You can buy under $99 used, which is a really good bargain, compared to let's say Tonebones. Yesterday I bought Tube King and I believe that it is a perfection of the Real Tube. I recall having Tube Driver and giving it away, it sorta paled in comparison. Kudos to BK Butler, 2006 I had a Real Tube short out, or something, and he answered my email directly by calling my cell phone and sending me component free.